In these days of economic hardships and world wide financial and terrorist issues, it seems somewhat pathetic that the French prime minister’s wife Carla Bruni should launch a new website devoted to her own self promotion and vanity.

But as fast as the website launched, it crashed!

The site, when viewable is a lavish tribute to Carla Bruni Sarkozy and the work she does as France’s first lady.

But beyond a few words on her ‘work’ evidently Carla has used the site to comment on what she sees as a ‘beauty contest’ between her and several other first ladies from around the world.

Letizia, Princess of Spain

Gordon Brown’s wife, Sarah

In her ramblings Carla mentions, Sarah Brown, wife of the UK’s prime minister, Gordon Brown, Princess Letizia of Spain and strangely enough, in the same sentence as ‘beauty contest’ she mentions with wife of America’s president Barack Obama, Michelle Obama.

But just where the competition comes in to being between Carla and Obama is a total mystery! According to Vanity Fair Michelle Obama is one of the world’s ten best-dressed women. Oh please, we have eyes!

The 41 year old Bruni was, in a previous life, a model, having worked for designers and fashion houses such as Christian Dior, Givenchy, Paco Rabanne, Sonia Rykiel, Christian Lacroix, Karl Lagerfeld, John Galliano, Yves Saint-Laurent, Chanel and Versace and remains an international sex symbol. With her 5ft 9 inch stature, her blue eyes, brunette hair and fair skin, Mrs Sarkozy has all the requirements of a model.

Mrs Obama on the other hand, stands 5ft 11 inches tall, with an almost Amazonian stature and a jaw line not so dissimilar to James Brown. She lumbers as she walks and has the arms of a Russian shot putter. Her dress sense leaves plenty to be desired. The only model America’s First lady has any resemblance to is a model of SS Intrepid!

And of course, the only reason all these women now have a ‘beauty completion’ on their hands is because the world no longer has the yard rule by which previous first ladies, Queens, Princesses were measured, England’s Princess Diana.

Now there was a first lady in every sense of the word, poise, fashion, looks, serenity, style and of course her ability to fill a room just with her presence!